UkeStuff
Well-known member
As soon as the new Kala Concert Waterman were announced, I placed an order for my school. We ordered six (three black, three green), and they arrived today. Thanks to Mike at Uke Republic for ordering and shipping these to us, as promised, as soon as they came in.
[Incidentally, FedEx to Post Office delivery is ridiculous. The package has been within a 30 minute drive since Sunday--now Saturday--but it gets delivered on the promised day, even so!]
Kala gave our program 40 Waterman Soprano ukuleles (turns out in discontiued colors, which isn't a problem until you need to replace one that goes 'missing.' We are incredibly grateful for these ukuleles), and it made sense to have some of these Concerts, too.
I have been fiddling with one of the Concerts today, and I may make a video this afternoon. I also own a current version of the Outdoor Ukulele Tenor, so I have something to compare it to.
The Concert does sound more plastic-ish than the Outdoor (not surprising), and styling seems to be exactly matched to its Soprano model. It seems to have the same painted frets and screened side dots, all which will fade over time. Action is good...no idea if Uke Republic had to work on them or not...and intonation is okay. Pitch seems to go sharp as I go up the fretboard, but the strings are not settled and it is hard to really get an idea of what intonation is really like.
The ukulele comes with a "sling bag" that will offer very minor protection. The bag has a smoothing inner lining that allows the ukulele to go in and out of the bag quite easily. The ukulele carries the traditional Waterman logo on the headstock, and has Kala pressed in the plastic on the back. Gone, however, is any mention of Makala. I seem to remember that our Waterman are labeled with "Makala."
The box itself sells itself as a starter package for ages 3 to 103 (If you hit 104, you have to give the ukulele back). But they are right...you have the instrument, a bag, and online resources such as lessons and a link to Kala's very decent tuner app. Sure, a clip on is better in a noisy environment...but Kala really does give you everything you need to get going for less than $60.
The strings are super Nylgut--but the tag in the box says, "Red Series." I'm not sure what to make of that, but I will be moving the ukuleles to our KIDS colored strings for instructional purposes (Ukulele Kids Club has started using those strings).
This is a ABS plastic go-anywhere Concert ukulele for what should be less than $60 for most vendors. This is a great price, and also a great price and option for schools for a rugged instrument. You can find the Bugsgear Concert for $60-$100, so this instrument, styled after the Macaferri, is at a desireable price. Remember that the new Ukadelic ukuleles are also now solid plastic Waterman ukuleles, as well (no more wood top, like a Makala Dolphin). Outdoor doesn't have a Concert ukulele, but you get a different sound from Outdoor for $100 for a Soprano and $150 for a Tenor. I know you can leave that Outdoor in your car, winter or summer (strings might take a beating)--not sure you should do that with a Waterman or Bugsgear. But if you aren't going to do that and would like an affordable larger-than-Soprano travel ukulele the new Concert Waterman is ultimately very replaceable and quite affordable.
[Incidentally, FedEx to Post Office delivery is ridiculous. The package has been within a 30 minute drive since Sunday--now Saturday--but it gets delivered on the promised day, even so!]
Kala gave our program 40 Waterman Soprano ukuleles (turns out in discontiued colors, which isn't a problem until you need to replace one that goes 'missing.' We are incredibly grateful for these ukuleles), and it made sense to have some of these Concerts, too.
I have been fiddling with one of the Concerts today, and I may make a video this afternoon. I also own a current version of the Outdoor Ukulele Tenor, so I have something to compare it to.
The Concert does sound more plastic-ish than the Outdoor (not surprising), and styling seems to be exactly matched to its Soprano model. It seems to have the same painted frets and screened side dots, all which will fade over time. Action is good...no idea if Uke Republic had to work on them or not...and intonation is okay. Pitch seems to go sharp as I go up the fretboard, but the strings are not settled and it is hard to really get an idea of what intonation is really like.
The ukulele comes with a "sling bag" that will offer very minor protection. The bag has a smoothing inner lining that allows the ukulele to go in and out of the bag quite easily. The ukulele carries the traditional Waterman logo on the headstock, and has Kala pressed in the plastic on the back. Gone, however, is any mention of Makala. I seem to remember that our Waterman are labeled with "Makala."
The box itself sells itself as a starter package for ages 3 to 103 (If you hit 104, you have to give the ukulele back). But they are right...you have the instrument, a bag, and online resources such as lessons and a link to Kala's very decent tuner app. Sure, a clip on is better in a noisy environment...but Kala really does give you everything you need to get going for less than $60.
The strings are super Nylgut--but the tag in the box says, "Red Series." I'm not sure what to make of that, but I will be moving the ukuleles to our KIDS colored strings for instructional purposes (Ukulele Kids Club has started using those strings).
This is a ABS plastic go-anywhere Concert ukulele for what should be less than $60 for most vendors. This is a great price, and also a great price and option for schools for a rugged instrument. You can find the Bugsgear Concert for $60-$100, so this instrument, styled after the Macaferri, is at a desireable price. Remember that the new Ukadelic ukuleles are also now solid plastic Waterman ukuleles, as well (no more wood top, like a Makala Dolphin). Outdoor doesn't have a Concert ukulele, but you get a different sound from Outdoor for $100 for a Soprano and $150 for a Tenor. I know you can leave that Outdoor in your car, winter or summer (strings might take a beating)--not sure you should do that with a Waterman or Bugsgear. But if you aren't going to do that and would like an affordable larger-than-Soprano travel ukulele the new Concert Waterman is ultimately very replaceable and quite affordable.